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MOURNING DOYK 



{Zenaidura CaroUne?isis.) 

 Mostly this bird is called turtle dove. The above 

 name was given it because of its mournful notes which 

 greet us in early spring. These birds are very genlle 

 and loving to each other. They much resemble pig- 

 eons, of which family they are a member. The plu- 

 mage is a beautiful rosy pink, with some black and 

 white on the wings and tail. When flying the wings 

 emit a sharp whistling sound, which plainly character- 

 ize this specie, and the tail is spread showing the white 

 feathers. The nest is placed in an apple tree in the 

 orchard, or on the top of a stump in the woods: it is a 

 frail structure, being composed of a few sticks loosely 

 thrown together in the shape of a flat platform which 

 you can almost see through; upon this they lay two 

 beautiful white eggs. They are very careful of their 

 eggs and young, and show great anxiety when they are 

 approached or taken from them at any time. 



RUFFED GROUSE. 



{Bonasa Umbellus.) 

 This bird is sometimes called prairie-chicken, or drum- 

 mer. The males in spring mount an old log in the 

 woods and beat it with their wings several minutes in 

 succession: this is the cause of the drumming sound so 

 familiar to those who live on or near prairies where 

 these birds delight to live; also in tracts of waste 

 ground. Their plumage is beautifully barred and spot- 

 ted, being black, white and rich brown; the wings have 

 bands of white across them. The nest is placed on the 

 ground, and is composed of grass and leaves. The eggs 

 number from six to eight, oval in form, dingy white. 



